The "Fukushima Fifty"

Whatever one thinks about the near-criminal strategy taking place behind the scenes as to how Japan is handling the bailout, one thing is certain: the 50 Tepco workers who are currently laboring at Fukushima, doing all they can to restore the plant back to life, even at the cost of their own lives, are doing a tremendous service to their fellow citizens (futile or otherwise), and deserve to be called heroes. The Mail has compiled what little information is available about these impromptu martyrs, of whom five are believed to have already died and 15 are injured while others have said they know the radiation will kill them, in a piece that everyone should read, especially those who are wondering just who it is that is doing everything in their power to offset Hitachi's criminal conduct in the construction of the power plant as disclosed earlier. "The darkness is broken only by the flashing torchlight of the heroes who stayed behind. These first images of inside the stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi power plant reveal the terrifying conditions under which the brave men work to save their nation from full nuclear meltdown. The Fukushima Fifty - an anonymous band of lower and mid-level managers - have battled around the clock to cool overheating reactors and spent fuel rods since the disaster on March 11."

Despite sweltering heat from the damaged reactors, they must work in protective bodysuits to protect their skin from the poisonous radioactive particles that fill the air around them.

But as more radiation seeps into the atmosphere minute by minute, they know this job will be their last.

Five are believed to have already died and 15 are injured while others have said they know the radiation will kill them.

The original 50 brave souls were later joined by 150 colleagues and rotated in teams to limit their exposure to the radiation spewing from over-heating spent fuel rods after a series of explosions at the site. They were today joined by scores more workers.

Japan has rallied behind the workers with relatives telling of heart-breaking messages sent at the height of the crisis.

A woman said her husband continued to work while fully aware he was being bombarded with radiation. In a heartbreaking email, he told his wife: 'Please continue to live well, I cannot be home for a while.'

One girl tweeted in a message translated by ABC: 'My dad went to the nuclear plant, I've never seen my mother cry so hard. People at the plant are struggling, sacrificing themselves to protect you. Please dad come back alive.'

But it is becoming even more pressing that the Fukushima succeed after it was revealed today that Tokyo's tap water has been contaminated by unusual levels of radiation.

While only praise can be showered on these 50 or so volunteers for the true greater good, the biggest punishment possible should be doled out for those who knowingly let this catastrophe occur, if indeed corners were cut in the design of the NPP, and also for those who continue to lie to the population in an attempt to prevent a panic (yes, we have all heard the Mutual Assured Destruction lies of a government that does "what is best for everyone") while simply allowing an ever greater number of people to succumb to radiation poisoning or worse.

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"Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano unveiled estimates that people outside of a 30-kilometer radius of the plant, in which residents have been ordered to evacuate or remain indoors, could be exposed to radiation of 100 millisieverts or more, an annual dose believed to be associated with an increased risk of cancer."

"One has to remember that there's still no evidence that the containment structures of the damaged (Fukushima) reactors 1, 2, and 3 have been significantly breached, which is a difference from Chernobyl where the confinement structure was destroyed in the very early stages of the accident."

The Fukushima containments are fully intact despite earthquake and tsunami damage to pipes and valves. That belies the Wotawa claim.

Then there is a claim that one worker has received a "high dose" of radiation. Here is the actual report:

The IAEA also had information about eighteen workers at the site which had been exposed to radiation since the accident, including one who got a dose rate of about [ 106,300,000 nanoSieverts ] although no medical treatment was required.

35,000,000 nanoSieverts (or nanoGrays) per year matches to the maximum recommended lab worker exposure. This is equal to 5 REM.

The dose to this worker equals 3 times the IAEA recommended maximum annual dose.

Doesn't matter Red. I'll be walking by your corpse in a couple of months and using your shit for fun. You keep believing what you wish.

Problem with faith is it actually has to bring something eventually. Hope your kids/cousins/grandkids die a horrible death coughing up blood and shitting themselves to death in a long wait at the hospital.

Worked in one of these places (in Canada) years ago and had the run of the place. Freakish enough when it was all working properly, checking yourself for contamination at each checkpoint (and laughing at the joint butts in the more remote areas). Can't imagine the terror fishing around in the dark knowing that every second your lifespan is being unavoidably shortened.

Mad Max....you're a piece of shit!!!! Exactly what radiation levels are you reassuring people about???? The ones that the Japanese government is displaying in real time on the internet for all economically and socially important areas around the reactor and in Tokyo!!!??? It's funny....I haven't been able to find this information.

I'm beyond tired of bullshit propaganda and those who repeat it, so that rich men can try to retain wealth by sending poor men and the ignorant to their deaths. This evil bullshit must end...and it will.....soon!

I think we are late to the kick Max's ass partaaae... Reads like it went well though, plenty of ass kicked.. My prayers for these men. The U.S. has forgotten what real heroes are, these boys fit the bill..

This is not a government site, they have no agenda, etc. I've been watching it for a week, and it is gradually creeping up due to the disaster in Japan, however levels still remain very low. If you guys are really worried then why don't you GTF out of dodge right now instead of typing on your keyboards?

I've been sleeking around here for several years, and I think my family and I are ready to look at relocating from NH to a south american country.... Any advice on the area or job prospects? Im a mechanical engineer in product development in the medical/consumer arena. Thanks,

If you want to continue in your profession, it will have to be a fairly big country: Brazil, Mexico. You should be able to speak the language (Portugese, Spanish). Engineering is a licensed profession in Central and South America. It would be best to work for a US multinational with offices in the country you want to live in. Intel has a factory in Costa Rica, for instance. The big problem will be work permit and/or residency for the family. Some countries have special rules for retirees with government pensions, also for inward investment if you have a couple million to work with. Before you go on a South American adventure, I highly recommend Australia and New Zealand. Check to see if your profession is in demand. There are good employment agencies and immigration agents to advise what's possible Down Under. Nicest people on the planet IMO. Excellent schools. Safe streets. Good food.

You mean the part where we said it's a terrible accident, but not yet an outright catastrophe? Or the part where we said that sacrificing first responders was basically just keeping a finger in the dike?

I'm still pretty solid on the big picture we've painted here actually. Although the cesium contamination is getting pretty bad.

As are the atmospherics on the site...still, the best information by far. Your input included, trav7777. I think you know I don't give you shit--you're mostly on the ball.

I've seen this chart floating around. It's claiming ~3.6mSv per day at Fukushima, which is nothing. However, if that is the case, then how are workers dying? You have to assume they are being treated for radiation sickness. Therefore, they need at least an 4Sv dose. That is over 100x the claim. Something doesn't add up.